Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-10
q person he would cling to them persist

enCly.
After dinner, when we had all adjourned
| to the parlor, I told Cousin Charity of
my pleasant visit and Mrs. Bigelow's wish
that I should return to spend another
week at her house. Soon after I left to
prepare for my ride back.
"Don't you think she looks little as Ra-
chel did at her Rge?" I heard Mr.. Tolman
say, In low tone, to Cousin Charity. as
his eyes followed me to the door, visit
fully.
"Well, I cannot see much resemblance,
Ezra. Rachel had dark-blue eyes and
Agnes has gray" was her reply.
"Julian, dear, have you asked Uncle Ezra
to see your new pony?" Then they went
out to the stables.
81 have brought back your shawl
said, timidly.
"You will need it while you are there
better take it back with you," was her an
swer, bending over my valise, which she
was just closing. [ felt relieved; the
shawl had been useful and becoming. I
hated to part with it.
AS I was getting into the carriage Mr..
Tolman and Julian came out, having duly
inspected the new pony.
Mr.. TOlman was reticent man and sell
dom talked much with the ladies, but he
came forward with the manner of one de-
sirous of saying something to me. I had
| been informed often that he was a mar
velousiy wise as we'll as rich man. In my
awe and bashfulness at the first sign of
his directly addressing nae I could not
think of word to say, except trite re-
mark that 'the day was fine" The words
sounded formal and Indifferent. I no.
ticed that his kindly light blue eyes beam
| ed upon me through his glasses with a
puzzled, half disappointed expression.
Said Cousin Charity: "You had better
drive along, John, the afternoon is 60
ing. Good-by, my DEAR" to me, and then
I waved my hand to Mr.. Tolman as the
carriage moved away,
The days that followed were the most
memorable and beautiful of all my life,
and although within the limit of those
life pages there is one turned down and
bathed with passionate tears still [ love
to turn the leaves Of memory's volume
lingeringly when come to those sum-
mer days among the hills at Dalesmere.
That evening after my return we
danced until quite late, and then with
Mr.. Lascelles [ walked up and down the
broad piazza. [ wore the India muslin.
Mr.. Lascelles had brought me boquet
Of white flowers and cluster of them
was fastened at my throat.
A balmy, quiet spring evening, with
the full moon serenely shining, kissing
the mountains that, like bands Of faith
ful sentinels, guarde1 the valley.
Hidden somewhere in the shrubbery
whip-poor-will was singing with tender
ness and passion while strains Of melan-
cholly waltz music foated out to US from
the lighted parlors.
It was the foodtide of my lifes brief
happiness, although I little knew it
then.
My companion was very quiet and at
last [ asked him the cause of this, for he
was usually brilliant talker. When he
replied it was in different manner from
his customary cheerful and easy way.
His face was pale in the moonlight as he
took both my hands in his own. 'Next
week l shall return to the city," he said
in an earnest voice; ought to have gone
before this, but when our hostess told me
that you were intending to stay with her
another week L changed my mind. Need
I tell you why? This has been pleas
ant time, one never to be forgotten; and
gered unless" He paused moment,
could be no misunderstanding the ca
dence of his voice, so tender and impas
stoned, nor the expression of the clear,
grave eyes that sought my own with gen
tie persistency. Other couples were
coming out to join us-he finished his
sentence in a whisper meant for my ears
alone: "Unless tomorrow brings me the
gift my heart most longs for, Agnes"
Then we were interrupted, and shortly
after assembled in the parlor to hear one
of the guests sing Venetian barcarole.
His eyes were upon me during the song,
and when it was over he came to me where
I sat beside Helen.
care you not chilly in that thin dress?
Let me get your shawl?" he said, noticing
that I shivered slightly.
It hung in the hall. In moment he
returned and tenderly wrapped it about
my shoulders.
"And pray how did you know this was
mine? There were several In the hail." [
inquired, half playfully.
Chow did know" was his answer. cit
resembles you somehow, perhaps in being
quaint and like no other. l admired it
when [ first saw you wear it, Have you
forgotten that am an artist, and, there
fore observe many things that are up
noticed by others? What beautiful
thing this is, anyhow; the colors blend SO
tremendously. do not remember ever
seeing another of this pattern. I sup
pose it is an heirloom in your family?"
Eyes, a very old family relic" I replied,
almost without thinking of the false i'm
preston was giving, and then my SEN
sitive conscience began to trouble me,
but I soothed myself with the reflection
that it was an heirloom in Cousin Char
ity's family, and did she not marry my
fathers cousin? Then Helen took up
this, to me, disagreeable topic:
ooh, Agnes, did your grandmamma
leave you that lovely shawl? I am sure
it is a veritable antique and has roman
tic history. Please tell us the story"
I blushed holly and did not look up.
How could tell these gay, wealthy peo-
pie that it was borrowed from Cousin
Charity? Why confess my poverty to
them? Besides, my answer to Mr.. Las
celles's remark had already committed
me to a miserable, involuntary little de-
ceptiOn. He was a very sensitive man